Washington, June 27, 2025 – It was a Friday of seismic upheaval: while Donald Trump, at an impromptu press conference, declared it “his most successful week as president,” the foundations of American civil rights crumbled and the relationship with a close ally shattered. In a series of announcements—backed by social media posts, court rulings, and resignations—not only was birthright citizenship attacked, but trade with Canada was effectively frozen. Trump’s decision to “end all trade talks with Canada immediately” was a direct response to Canada’s digital services tax on large U.S. tech firms. Though implemented in 2024, Trump is now using it as justification for economic retaliation, revealing how entwined personal grievance and trade policy are in his presidency. In a statement, he said: “Because of this outrageous tax, we are hereby ending ALL trade talks with Canada—effective immediately.” Canada would learn within seven days “what tariff it will pay to do business with the United States.” The tone was less diplomatic and more ultimatum. And while the president threatens tariffs abroad, the legal framework at home trembles. The Supreme Court’s decision to bar nationwide injunctions has done more than provoke outrage—it has fueled the battle over birthright citizenship. Lawyers, NGOs, and civil rights groups are now fighting Trump’s decree that migrants’ children should be denied U.S. citizenship. A 30‑day reprieve remains—but after that, being born on American soil may no longer guarantee being American. It is an assault on the heart of the Constitution—led by a president systematically dismantling institutional safeguards.
Colleges and universities are not spared. James Ryan, president of the prestigious University of Virginia, resigned under intense pressure from the Trump Justice Department. He was accused of defying federal orders to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This marks the first public university targeted in this political offensive—previously, Trump’s campaign against “woke ideology” focused on elite institutions like Harvard and Columbia. Ryan’s departure underscores how the administration is exploiting accusations of antisemitism as a pretext for a broader ideological purge. The Justice Department offered no comment on the matter. At the same time, the Supreme Court’s decision on online age verification has triggered alarm from civil rights advocates. Samir Jain of the Center for Democracy & Technology warned that “this ruling burdens more than adults—it undermines decades of First Amendment precedent.” Trump, in contrast, applauded the ruling—and another decision allowing Maryland’s religious parents to withdraw children from LGBTQ‑inclusive lessons. He called it a “win for normalcy”—a restoration of “family control.”
But what does normalcy mean in a country where civil liberties are bargaining chips? Where the president can neutralize universities, the Supreme Court reframes constitutional protections—and a neighbor nation is threatened over a mere tax? The answer lies in a single federal agency. Last year, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, a small and mostly obscure arm of the Department of Labor, helped Black workers in Texas and Illinois recover approximately $900,000 and $800,000 in unpaid wages after facing racial discrimination in job applications. Created in 1965 under Lyndon B. Johnson, the agency has been a bulwark against discrimination at federally contracted workplaces. Today, under Trump, it is being stripped of power. The assault on rights is not just present—it is historical: after 60 years of protection, a new era of unchecked discrimination is looming. And while this president basks in self‑congratulation, the world darkens little by little. That a single man can shake an entire system—and that nearly half the country cheers him on—reveals how far we’ve fallen. Much of it is convenience—our era’s greatest danger. We rage against censorship and defend so‑called free speech—yet we ban the organizations that challenge, expose, and fight back. The fools aren’t those who remain silent—they are those who assume someone else will fix it later. But that’s not how this game works. It only works for right‑wing populism. Because it relies on the ease of the many.
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